WORMING DUCKS~Who Does/Doesn't Do It

Who here worms their ducks or doesn't worm them and why?
When do you decide to worm your ducks?
Is there a reason you do because they've come down with a parasite or just do it as precaution, and what do you use and where can you get it?

And should I worm my ducks this spring? Especially with coming inside from time/time. In the Spring/Summer they will be outside pretty much full time but just wonder if I should worm them or shouldn't.

I do, to prevent anything from happening. I use liquid ivermectin cattle wormer, vet recommended a single droplet (out of eyedropper) orally for my mandarins and other bantam sized and 2 drops for my domestics. Later i'll look to find the specific brand.

My ducks drink from the chicken water containers when they are out free ranging. I have apple cider vinegar and garlic in those. And when I make a warm wet mash I add a heavy dose of red pepper flakes to it about once a month and they eat that right up. Come April I will take a fecal sample over to the vet clinic and have it checked again. Last summer they were worm free but I haven't had one checked since.

I'm really debating on doing that, last summer before they were mature and mating and had their wings clipped the vet mentioned worming them in a year. I can get Ivermectin from my local farm store. I have Runner/Rouen crosses, momma is smaller, but I don't want anything to happen to them or them bring anything in to use humans or to my other animals. Especially my dog when she goes out and does her business and my decide to taste test the stool of the ducks, plus not to mention the wildlife that come in our yard, squirrels, coons(which really I don't see a lot of ) deer, possum, ect. So I want to do this to take precaution. And what month do you usually start the worming, and is it a monthy treatment or 1 treatment for the entire season?

OK, I might order some but not sure if I sure order 11 or just 6, I know the ducklings are just screaming if 2 are missing from their flock, mom and dad they are fine. I really want to but OMGosh I don't know. I know it would be well worth it and OMG what a conversation piece when company come over. I know they will say I just sunk to a new level, not in my opinion!! Ok, how fast do they get smelly when wearing them? And how often do you have to change them? I don't plan on having the ducks in all day 24/7, just when I feel like having them in, but winter time will be another story just like now. Out of 11 ducks how many would you order?

I have never wormed my duck flock in 12+ yrs here in the NE.. never had any problems. Some of my birds are 12 yrs old!

My rationale: They will always be exposed to worms/parasite when they free-range but due to the quantity of water they drink they continually flush-out their systems. This flushing-out prevents them from suffering any ill health effects. Note that I regularly worm the other animals on the farm.

This is from Dave Holderreads book on raising ducks: under normal circumstances, ducks have good to excellent resistance to most internal and external parasites. However, ducks that consume an inadequate diet or are crowded or forced to live in filthly enviroment are more susceptible to parasites.